Use of moss to reduce disinfection by-products in water treated with disinfectants

Abstract

A method of reducing disinfection by-products in water treated with disinfectants including contacting the water with an amount of a non-decomposed moss effective to reduce the level of disinfection by-products. A method of determining the effectiveness of a first method of reducing disinfection by-products in water treated with disinfectants, the first method including contacting the water with an amount of a non-decomposed moss effective to reduce the level of disinfection by-products, the method including determining the effectiveness of the first method by measuring the level of the disinfection by-products in water treated with disinfectants and contacted with the amount of non-decomposed moss.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of reducing disinfection by-products in water treated with disinfectants comprising contacting the water with an amount of a non-decomposed moss effective to reduce the level of disinfection by-products, wherein the disinfection by-products whose level is reduced comprise one or more of the group of trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids. 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water has been treated with a disinfectant selected from the group consisting of chlorinated, brominated, or other halogen containing disinfectants. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the disinfectant is a disinfectant that includes chlorine. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-decomposed moss is in the form of leaves or parts of leaves. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the non-decomposed moss is in the form of compressed leaves or parts of leaves. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-decomposed moss is placed in a carrier. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the carrier is a mesh bag. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-decomposed moss is placed in a contact chamber. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-decomposed moss is placed in a filter cartridge housing. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-decomposed moss is placed in a surge tank of a pool. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water is water in a spa, swimming pool, or splash deck. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the level of disinfection by-products in the water is reduced by 20 percent or more after eight weeks. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the level of disinfection by-products in the water is reduced by 40 percent or more after eight weeks. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the level of disinfection by-products in the water is reduced by 60 percent or more after eight weeks. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disinfection by-products whose level is reduced comprise chloroform. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disinfection by-products whose level is reduced comprise one or more of chloroform, bromoform, dichlorobromomethane, and dibromochloromethane. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-decomposed moss is selected from the group consisting of  sphagnum papillosum, sphagnum cristatum , and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the level of disinfection by-products is reduced in the air above the water. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the disinfection by-products whose level is reduced in the air above the water comprise one or more of chloroform, bromoform, dichlorobromomethane, and dibromochloromethane. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the disinfection by-product whose level is reduced in the air above the water is chloroform. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the level of disinfection by-products in the air above the water is reduced by 20 percent or more after 28 weeks. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the level of disinfection by-products in the air above the water is reduced by 40 percent or more after 28 weeks. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disinfection by-products whose level is reduced comprise one or more trihalomethanes. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disinfection by-products whose level is reduced comprise one or more haloacetic acids. 
     
     
       25. A method of reducing disinfection by-products in water treated with disinfectants comprising contacting the water with an amount of a non-decomposed moss effective to reduce the level of disinfection by-products, wherein the disinfection by-products whose level is reduced comprise one or more of chloroform, bromoform, dichlorobromomethane, dibromochloromethane, 1,1,1-trichloro-2-propanone, 1,1,1-trichloroacetonitrile, chloral hydrate, dibromochloroacetic acid, dichlorobromoacetic acid, tribromoacetic acid, and trichloroacetic acid. 
     
     
       26. A method of reducing disinfection by-products in water treated with disinfectants comprising contacting the water with an amount of a non-decomposed moss effective to reduce the level of disinfection by-products, wherein the disinfection by-products whose level is reduced consist of the group of chloroform, bromoform, dichlorobromomethane, dibromochloromethane, 1,1,1-trichloro-2-propanone, 1,1,1-trichloroacetonitrile, chloral hydrate, dibromochloroacetic acid, dichlorobromoacetic acid, tribromoacetic acid, and trichloroacetic acid. 
     
     
       27. A method of reducing disinfection by-products in water treated with disinfectants comprising contacting the water with an amount of a non-decomposed moss effective to reduce the level of disinfection by-products, wherein the disinfection by-products whose level is reduced consist of the group of chloroform, bromoform, dichlorobromomethane, and dibromochloromethane.